Orlando City youth soccer teams head to England for week of fun, games

April 2, 2012|By Jessica Gillespie, Orlando Sentinel

A group of Central Florida youth soccer players has toured the facilities of the English Premier League's oldest team, Stoke City.

The boys have gotten autographs from professional soccer players. They've attended a Premier League game. They've competed against youth pro teams overseas.

They've been there, done that in England. But that was last year.

On Tuesday, 35 8- to 13-year-olds from Orlando City Soccer Club's youth academies will fly to Manchester, England, for a weeklong trip. About 74 people, counting coaches, parents, and chaperones, are expected on the trip, which will cost about $2,000 per person. They will return April 12.

"I'm really looking forward to going this year to see what it feels like, because I've never gone that far," said David Loera, a 13-year-old who attends Hunter's Creek Middle School.

A.J. Seals, a home-schooled 12-year-old, loved going to a Stoke City game last year because the fans were crazy. This year, he's excited to go onto the field in front of the whole stadium.

"[I'm] going to be pretty nervous," A.J. said. "They'll probably cheer for us and stuff. The announcer will probably say our name. It'll be pretty cool."

Brick had taken a team to France in 2010, but he wanted the children to experience English soccer and to see how youths and professionals train and play in England. In 2011, the group took its first trip to England, and this year's itinerary has added perks.

"We set up a really special day on the Friday when they get to watch Stoke's first team train on the sidelines watching the pros play and train before their game on the Saturday," Rawlins said. "And that's always great to see, because the kids' faces light up, and it's a brilliant day for them.

"And the next day, they're going to get a behind-the-scenes tour of the stadium at Stoke. They're going to get to meet the players before the game and also go down on the field in front of about 28,000 fans [and] get introduced."

Raul Aguilera, 12, is going on the trip for the second time.

"When we went there [in 2011], we toured the field, but we weren't allowed to touch the pitch,'' the Sanford Millennium Middle School student said. "It looked amazing. But now, being able to go on it, feel it on your feet,it's going to be amazing."

The boys also will see a Manchester United game.

"I guarantee you the atmosphere at the game is amazing," said Aguilera, who added Manchester United is his favorite team. "Watching the fans scream, it's something that will change you."

The Orlando City youth academies will play four English academies. After tying one game, losing two and winning one in England last year, many of the boys said they are better prepared.

"We try to play like how they play," said Bryce Willis, 12, from Master's Academy. "We try to do the same drills in practice. They play really fast."

Brick, whose 12-year-old son Gregory will play with the Orlando City youth teams in England, said the boys who went on the trip last year came back motivated.

"They're changed in the way they view the game, because they've seen something very different from what we know here in America," Brick said.